bichter



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. RICHTER, Decd.

A. W. Mwruml, Administrator. BEPEATING WATCH.

No. 430,739. PatentedJune 24, 1890.

2. .vu e e h s w e e h S 4. d. nU e D R E T H C I R Tm (No Model.)

A. W. MATTHAEI, Administrator.

RBPBATING WATGH. No. 430,739.

Patented June 24 (No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

J. RICHTER, Deod.

` A. W. MAT'IHAEI, Administrator.

- RBPEATING WATCH.

No. 430,739. Patented June 24, 1890,

Tljzee: Invebrr (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. RICHTER, Deod.

A. W. MATTHAEI, Administrator; REPBATING WATCH.

No. 43o-,739. Patsnted June 24, 1890.

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- UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST 1V ILI'IELM MATTHAEI, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ADMINISTRATOR OF JENS RICHTER, DECEASED.

REPEATlNG-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,739, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed February 6, 1890. Serial No. 339.439. (No model.) Patented in Germany July 19, 1889, No. 50,669 in Belgium July 19,1889, No. 87,047; in France July 19,1889,I"lo. 199,680; in England July 19, 1889,110. 11,561; inSwitzerland July 2011889,No.1,223; in Italy September 30,1889,No.25,969,andinAuatria-Hungary February 2,1890, Not 31,554 and To tZZ wiz/0m, t may concern.'

Be it known that J ENs RICHTER, deceased, a subject of the King of Denmark, and last residing in the city of Hong-Kong, a British Colony in Asia, did invent certain new and useful Improvements in Repeating Mechanism for Watches and I, AUGUsT WILHELM MATTHAEI, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a residentof the city of Berlin, in 'the German Empire, at present residing in the city of Vashngton, District of Columbia, United States of America, administrator of the estate of the said JENs RICHTER, do hereby declare that the said invention was patented in Germany under date of July 19, 1880, No. 50,669; in Belgiunn'dated July 19, 1889, No. 87,047; in France, dated July 10, 1880, No.19),680; in England, dated July 19, 1880, No. 11,561; in Italy, dated September 30, 1889, Nos. 25,00) and 185; in Austria-Hungary, datod'February 2, 1800, No. 31,554 and No. 02,415, and in Switzerland, dated July 20, 1889, No. 1,223, and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention of the said .TENS RICHTER, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a face View of a watch, illustrating the repeating mechanism in its initial position or at its starting-point. Fig. 2 is a like view showing the position of the repeating mechanism after repeating the hour. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the position of the repeating mechanism after repeating the three-quarter hour. Figs. 4f, 5, and (i are face views of the repeating mechanism, the dial, the minute-hand, and the push-pins being indicated by dotted lines, showingthe position of the repeating mechanism after repeating the twelfth hour and after repeating the first quarter and the half hour, respectively. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are face views of the several toothed wheels employed in the repeating mechanism. Fig. 11is a side elevation of the watch, the repeating mechanism being shown in axial section.

Fig 12 is a similar View of the toothed wheels of the repeating mechanism detached, and 5o Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the locking-pin at the starting-point of the repeating mechanism. Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the repeating mechanism on the line of pinion P. Fig. 15 is a perspective sectional 55 view thereof. Fig. 16 is a like view, a portion of the. bridge B being` lbroken away to show the pin that moves the pawl or lever L into engagement with the ratchet-ring R. Fig. 17 is an under side view of a portionv of 6o the ratchet-ring R and the repeating-ring R3, showing the lever or pawl L connected with the latter ring; and Fig. 18 is a perspective View of the hour-hand with its arm L2, that moves the stop-lever L into engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet-ring R3.

The invention relates to that class of watches known as repeating-watches, in which the time is indicated either audibly or through the sense of feeling. In watches of 7o this character the time is usually conveyed by sound-that is to say, the watch is pro-y vided with a striking mechanism adapted to repeat the hour or a fraction of an hour. This requires a complicated and delicate mechanism that is very expensive and lia'- ble to get out of repair. For the use of the blind watches have been provided with a dial having the hour numerals in relief to enable them to ascertain the time through the sense 8o of feeling or touch. r1`his, however, requires considerable experience and delicacy of touch in order not to move the hands of the watch, while it necessitates the opening of the watchcase or glass face, which is undesirable.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple, strong, an d efficient mechanism for repeating the hours and '(.luarter-hours entirely independent of the watch-movement itself in its operation, as well as its location 9o relatively to said movement, and so constructed as that the desired information maybe conveyed by impulses or shocks to the hand through the medium of a button and pin, or

a pin only, so that the watch need not be opened.

To these ends the invention consists in a repeating mechanism adapted to reciprocate or vibrate a finger-piece, whereby distinct shocks orimpulses are conveyed to the iinger applied to such finger-piece, the number ot shocks or impulses so conveyed indicating the time.

The invention further consists in the construction and combination of parts or elements and in their co-operation to produce the desired results, as will now be fully described.

In the drawings it is not deemed necessary to show the train ot gearing or watch-movement, as this has no con neetion whatever with the repeating mechanism and forms no part of this invention, nor does it eo-operate in any manner with said repeating mecha nisn'nwliich may therefore be used in conjunction with any watch-movement.

To the upper plate ot the watch-mo vement, or to the dial-plate, is secured a ratchet-wheel R, that is provided internally with Yforty-eight ratchet-teeth fr. The wheel R is constructed with an annular tlange )'10, by means of which itis secured to the top plate of the watch-move ment, and with a cylindrical portion w20, that has the ratchet-teeth l' projectinghorizontally and inwardly therefrom, the said teeth having their points in a direction the reverse of that in which the hour and minute hands move. On the wheel R are loosely mounted three toothed wheels R R2, the said wheels being rigidly connected together. The lower wheel Rf is an ordinary gear-wheel, which may be provided with any desired number of teeth lr', and serves to revolve the other two wheels, there being a pinion P arranged to gear with the teeth of said wheel R', the spindle p of said pinion projecting through the watch-case C and carrying a button p for revolving the same. rlhe intermediate wheel R2 has twelve ratchet-teeth r2, whose points lie also in a direction opposite to that ot the motion of the hands Il and lil and serve to repeat the hours. Finally, the top wheel R3 has thirtysix ratchet-teeth r2, whose points lie in the direction of motion ot the hands ll and H. The teeth r3 on wheel Ri are arranged in sets of three teeth, there being' a notch or recess between each of said sets of three teeth, the recesses being numbered from l to l2, respectively. This wheel RS serves to repeat the quarter-hours. The two wheels R2 and R3 are so connected together as that each set of three teeth and aloeking-notch of wheel R3 will lie over one of the teeth on wheel R2, as shown.

From what has been said it will be borne in mind that the wheels R and R2 have their teeth arranged to point in the same direction--namely, in the direction of motion of the hands of the watch-while the wheel R3 has its teeth arranged to point in a reverse direction, so that in repeating the hours the wheel R2 has to be turned in the direction ot motion of the hands, and when repeating the quarter-hours the wheel R3 has to be turned in a reverse direction.

In order to communicate a shock to the linger to indicate the hour orportion thereof, l provide two pins P2 and l, that are adapted to co-operate with the wheels R2 and R2, respectively. These pins move in sleeve-bearings p2 and p3 on the watch-ease, from which bearin they p rojeet su i'ticiently, so that they may be pushed inwardly into engagement with the teeth of wheels R2 Rg and the recesses between each set ot teeth et the last.- named wheel. When eitherot the pills l2or P3 is depressed and again released, it is returned into its normal position by means of a spring secured in proper position within the watch-case C, and whose free end engages the said pin. In Figs. l, 2, and Si these springs are shown in dotted lines, the spring .s2 operating the pin P2, and the spring s2 the pin l.

The wheel R has an enlargementr1, to the under sideof which is pivoted at r2 a leverI or pawl L, that is held in a normal position by means of a spring S, secured to the enlargement, and whose Vi'ree end engages a pin l or stud on said pawl. 'lhe pawl L is provided with a second pin l, that projects into a segmental slot r1, formed in the enlargement yrx3 ot wheel R3, the said slot being a segment ot a circle having the pawl-t'ulcrum ['23 for center, and is designed to limit the amplitude ot' motion of said pawl. As stated, the pawl L is fulcrumed to the under side of the enlargement/rm ot' wheel R,so as to lie in the plane ol' the teeth fr of the lixed ratchet-wheel R, and so as to engage the said teeth whenever moved against the stress of its spring S. 'llo the en largement fr is secured a bridge l5, that covers the slot fr and the pin l ot' pawl L projecting therethrough. ',llic wing l) of the bridge, that points in a direction the reverse ot` that in which the hands move, is bent downward,so as to allow a more or less elastic arm L2, secured to and revolving with the hour-han d ll, to pass onto and over the bridge. The other wing l1 ot the said bridge is not bent downwardly, so that the said arm L2 may pass under the bridge and engage the pin l to move the pawl L into engagement with the teeth fr ot ratchet-wheel R whenever the wheels R2 RS are revolved in the direction of,

motion of the hands ot the watch.

ln the upper plate of the watch-movement is arranged a spring-actuated pin l, (shown in Figs. ll and l3,) said pin being adapted to engage a hole 721 in the toothed wheel R', as shown, the upper end of said pin being beveled, so as to adapt the wheels to be turned in one direction, but to be locked against revolution in a reverse direction whenever' the said pin is in engagement with the hole T21 in said wheel R.

The operation of the described repeating mechanism is as follows, it being borne in mind that whenever it is desired to ascertain IOO IIC

the time the repeating mechanism has to be brought to an initial or starting point, which is the pin P4, and that in doing this the said repeating mechanism has to be revolved in a direction opposite to that of the revolution of the hands of the watch. The pin P4 is shown as located on a central line passing through the sixty and thirty minute graduations beyond the former graduation or above twelve oclock, though it may be located at any other desired point., and the bevel of the pin is in the direction of motion of the hands of the watch. It is obvious, therefore, tha

whenever the repeating mechanism is brought to its starting-point it is locked against further rotation in the direction it was moved, thereby indicating to the manipulator that the said mechanism is in position for operation. As the bevel of the pin is in the direction of motion of the hands, the repeating mechanism is therefore free to revolve in that direction.

In Figs. 1 and 4 the repeating mechanism is shown in its initial position or at its startiiig-point, and in said Fig. 4 the watch indicates twelve oclock, the notch ll of toothed wheel R3 lying opposite the push-pin P3.

To ascertain the time, the push-pin P2 is pushed inwardly onto the periphery of the hour-repeating wheel R2. By revolving the repeating mechanism through the medium of the pinion P and the toothed wheel R in the direction of motion of the hands the repeatin g mechanism is brought nearly back to its starting-point, the wing b of bridge B will pass over the 'arm L2, and said ai'in will strike the pin Z ofpawl L, thereby moving the said pawl against the stress of its spring S into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel R, Vand simultaneously therewith the pin P will snap into the hole A im of the toothed wheel R, the pawl L lock- A motion.

ing the repeating mechanism against further In this operation the repeat-ing mechanism has made a complete revolution, during which the twelve teeth of wheel R2 passed under pin P2, thereby imparting to said pin, and through the latter to the finger l2, impulses indicatin the hour to betwelve oclock. In order to verify the time indicated, the push-pin P3 is depressed to repeat the quarter-hours.

It has lieieinbefore been stated that in order to ascertain the quarter-hour the repeating mechanism is revolved in a direction opposite to that of the hands of the watch, the teeth on wheel R3 point-ing in the direction of motion of said hands; but since the notch 1l in said wheel R3 has again been brought opposite to the pin-push P3 when said pin is depressed it will enter the said notch 1l and lock the repeating mechanism against rotation in the stated direction. On the other hand, since the bevel of pin P4 is in the direction of motion of the hands of the watch,

f this pin will also lock the repeating mechanism against motion in an opposite direction, thus verifying the time repeated. This hour can be repeated once only between the hours of twelve and one oclock, and during this hour the starting-point will represent the twelfth hour. The reason why this ho'ur can be repeated but once is that the bridge B would pass over arm L after said arm is carried beyond twelve oelock and th row it into engagement with the ratchet-wheel R; nor is the quarter-hour pin P3 actuated between twelve oclock and a quarter past twelve, for the reason that three teeth r3 and a notch on wheel R3 occupy a space equal to one tooth on the hour-repeating wheel R2. Hence during this time a notch will be opposite the push-piu P3;

but after a quarter past twelve the first quarter-hour can be ascertained by first revolving the repeating mechanism in the direction of motion of the hands of the watch, which will bring the last tooth of the three between notches l0 and il opposite pin P3, and by depressing the pin onto the wheel R3 and revolving the repeatingmechanism back again the said pin P3 will ride over said last tooth and enter notch Il, thus producing` one shock and locking the repeating mechanism against further motion.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the repeating mechanism is shown in its position before it is revolved back to indicate the quarter and the half hour, the push-pin P3 in Fig. 5 being in contact with the first and in Fig. (i with the second tooth' of the set between the notches i0 and ll, so that if inoved back one impulse will be inipait'ed to the push-pin Fig. 5 and two iinpulses to the push-piiiliig. (i, indicating the quarter and half hours, respectively.

In Fig. 3 the repeating mechanism is shown in its position immediately after the repeti- .tion of the hour, ([ive oclocl said ineehanism being shown as locked by pawl L.

In Fig. 3 the repeating mechanism is shown in its position after repeating the three-quai'- ter hour, the hour being one-quarter to six oclock, or five hours and threequarters.

It will be seen that the repeating in echanism, irrespective of its being absolutely independent of the going-train, is extremely simple and can be made con'iparatively strong, occupying but little space.

In view of the fact that thesaid repeating mechanism is located above the going-train toothed disks may be used instead of wheels, as described, and said disks may be arranged to revolve on a hub, through which pass the hour and minute hand arbors. The arm L2, instead of being secured directly to the hour-hand, may be secured to bearingsleeve thereof.

' Having described the invention, what is claimed is y l. In a repeating' mechanism for watches, a wheel provided with a given niiinbei' of teeth and adapted to revolve in a given di rection from a predetermined startingnpoint and gearing adapted to revolve the wheel, in combination with a lock controlled by a movi- IOO IIO

IZO

ing element of the watch and adapted to lock said wheel against revolution and a push-pin adapted to bear on the periphery of the wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a repeating mechanism for watches, a wheel provided with a g'iven number of teeth and adapted to revolve in a given direction from a predetermined starting-point and gearing adapted to revolve the wheel, the spindle of one of the'gear-wheels being provided with a button for revolving' the same, in combination with one ot the hands of the watch, a lock controlled by said hand and adapted to lock the wheel against revolution, and a push-pin adapted to bear against the periphery ot' the wheel, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a repeating mechanism for watches, a wheel provided with twelve ratchet-teeth and adapted to revolve in a given direction from a predetermined starting-point, a springactuated pawl pivoted to said wheel, a fixed ratchet adapted to be engaged by the pawl to lock the wheel against revolution, and gearing adapted to revolve the wheel to and from its starting-point, in combination with the hour-hand, an arm connected therewith and adapted to engage the pawl and move it against the stress et its spring into engagement with the teeth of the iixed ratchet, and a push-pin adapted to bear against the periphery ot' the wheel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

it. In a repeatingmechanism for watches, the wheel R2, provided with twelve teeth, the pawl L, pivoted to said wheel and having a pin l projecting through a slot in the wheel, and the bridge B on said wheel, overhanging the pin l, said bridge having' wings l) and b', arranged as described, and a fixed ratchet R, adapted to be engaged by the pawl L, in combination with the spring-actuated pin P4, beveled as described, the gear-wheel R', rigidly connected with wheel R2 and having a hole adapted to be engaged by the pin P1, the pinion I in gear with wheel R', the hour-hand, the arm L'2 connected therewith and adapted to engage the pin l on pawl L, and a pushpin adapted to bear on the periphery of wheel R2, substantially as and for the purposes specified. l

5. In a repeating mechanism for watches, a wheel provided with thirty-six teeth arranged in sets ot' three teeth and a recess or notch between each set, said wheel heilig' adapted to revolve in a given direction from a starting-point, in combination with a pushpin adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the teeth and notches of said wheel, substantially as and tor the purposes specified.

(5. In a repeating mechanism for watches, a quarter-hour repeating-wheel provided with thirty-six teeth and a notch or recess between each set of three teeth, an hour repeating-wheel provided with twelve teeth, the teeth on said wheels pointing in opposite directions, a pawl pivoted to the quarterhour repeating-wheel, a gear-wheel connected with the quarter-hour and hour repeatingwheels, a driving-pinion in gear with the gear-wheel, and a tiXed ratchetadapted to be engaged by the pawl on the quarter-hour repeating-wheel, in combination with a lock adapted to lock the gearand repeating wheels against revolution in one direction, the hourhand of the watch, an arm controlled thereby and adapted to control the pawl to move the same into engagement with the lixed ratchet, and two push-pins adapted to be moved in contact with the teeth on the quarter-honi' and hour repeating-wheels, respectively, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

7. The combination, with the ratchet-wheel R, the push-pins I2 and P3, and the hourhand carrying the arm L2, of the gear-wheel R', it-s pinion P, the superposed toothed wheels R2 R3, rigidly connected with the gearwheel and arranged to revolve about the fixed ratchet R, the spring-actuated pawl L, provided with the pin I, projecting through a slot in wheel R3, to which said pawl is pivoted, and adapted to engage the teeth of the `fixed ratchet, and the bridge l on wheel R3, having the wings t: and b and overhanging the pin Z, said parts being arranged and operating' substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST WILHELM MA'llliAlll, Administrator of 171e estate 0f Jens Richter, deceased.

vWitnesses:

HENRY ORTH, J. THOMSON CRoss. 

